James takes up Varsity Pitch Competition

A UCB student has entered the National Association of College & University Entrepreneurs’ (NACUE) Varsity Pitch Competition for a chance to win £10,000 to help fund his business.

James Davis, a third-year BA Sports Management student, has spotted a gap within a market and wants to launch his own brand of luxury streetwear.

“Luxury streetwear is an area that is rapidly growing within the retail sector,” said James, “and I feel like I can bring something fresh and innovative to this market.”

Streetwear has evolved from a grassroots cultural movement into a mainstream phenomenon that has become increasingly inclusive as it rises in popularity. It has even captured the attention of the high fashion world, with brands like KTZ and Givenchy mixing the style with their own couture sensibility. Well-known celebrities like Rihanna and Jay-Z are known for their unique streetwear styles, and Pharrell Williams has his own streetwear clothing brands – Billionaire Boys Club and ICECREAM.

“I have already written up a business plan and created a logo and a name for my brand - Kaizen”, James said. “This is something that I’ve always been passionate about pursuing and I have been working on it for a long time. The prize money from The Varsity Pitch will go a long way to making my ideas a reality.

“Doing a Sports Management course at UCB, particularly the business-oriented modules, has enabled me to develop my skills and prepare me for the hard work and commitment required to start my own business.”